over the point of resistance and the higher the 

 foot will go when the revolution is made. Cut- 

 ting the foot down close is not a safe thing to 

 do on a horse that hits his elbows, although his 

 toe must be reasonably short. But a horse 

 eaited like an elbow hitter hits the s^round a 

 terrific blow and if his foot is dressed close, he 

 will feel the sting and if he resents it by short- 

 ening up in his stride his elbows will get the 

 benefit of the change. I would advise, there- 

 fore, to leave such a horse a fair foot, and shoe 

 with the lightest shoe he will balance in. I do 

 not like a bar-shoe on a horse of this kind, but 

 a plain, open shoe, squared a little at the toe, 

 beveled off well on the edges and at the heels, 

 which should be drawn down thin and fitted 

 short and close. The shoe from the last nail 

 hole back to the heel should be about one-half 

 the thickness it is in the center or "ball"' of the 

 foot. An elbow-hitter lands harder on his heels 

 than any other kind of a trotter, and with the 

 shoe shaped in this manner^ he will land nearer 

 level, as the toe of the foot is turned slightly 

 upwards when he lands, and when the reverse 

 action comes there is very little friction to com- 

 bat. It is verv seldom that a horse sraited like 

 this requires a quarter-boot, but if you put one 

 on as a precautionary measure, use the lightest 

 bell-boot you can get. A tight-fitting quarter- 

 boot or a thick heel-strap should not be used 

 on a horse of this kind. They add a certain 

 amount of weight to the heel, a thing to be 

 avoided, and the manner in which he hits the 

 ground is liable to force the boot or heel-strap 

 up against the tenderest part of his heels, caus- 

 ino- an inflamed condition that will lead vou to 



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